Anonymous (traditionally attributed to King Wen, the Duke of Zhou and Confucius) · Complete work
Hexagram 47 · Kùn ䷮
Hexagram 47 · Kùn ䷮ of 69. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
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困：亨，貞大人吉，无咎，有言不信。
初六：臀困于株木，入于幽谷，三歲不覿。
九二：困于酒食，朱紱方來，利用亨祀，征凶，无咎。
六三：困于石，據于蒺蔾，入于其宮，不見其妻，凶。
九四：來荼荼，困于金轝，吝，有終。
九五：劓刖，困于赤紱，乃徐有說，利用祭祀。
上六：困于葛藟，于臲卼，曰動悔。有悔，征吉。
彖曰：困，剛掩也。險以說，困而不失其所，亨；其唯君子乎？貞大人吉，以剛中也。有言不信，尚口乃窮也。
象曰：澤无水，困；君子以致命遂志。
入于幽谷，幽不明也。
困于酒食，中有慶也。
據于蒺藜，乘剛也。入于其宮，不見其妻，不祥也。
來徐徐，志在下也。雖不當位，有與也。
劓刖，志未得也。乃徐有說，以中直也。利用祭祀，受福也。
困于葛藟，未當也。動悔，有悔，吉行也。
Musean translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the classical Chinese, passage for passage, covering all 64 hexagrams with their judgments, line statements and attached commentaries, and the remaining Wings (the Great Commentary, the Discussion of the Trigrams, the Sequence and the Contrasts of the Hexagrams), 1,204 passages in all.
Kun (Oppression): Success. The great person's steadfastness brings good fortune and no blame. Words spoken will not be believed.
Six at the beginning: The buttocks are pressed against a tree stump; entering a shadowed valley, one sees no one for three years.
Nine in the second place: Oppressed amid wine and food. Scarlet knee-bands are coming; it is favorable to make offerings in sacrifice. Going forth brings misfortune, but no blame.
Six in the third place: Oppressed by stone, leaning upon thornbushes. Entering his home he does not see his wife. Misfortune.
Nine in the fourth place: He comes slowly, oppressed in a bronze carriage. Humiliation, but there is an end.
Nine in the fifth place: Nose cut off and feet severed, oppressed by scarlet knee-bands. Slowly there comes release. It is favorable to perform sacrifices.
Six at the top: Oppressed by creeping vines and a precarious perch. One says, “Moving brings regret.” With regret, going forth brings good fortune.
The Judgment Commentary says: In Kun, the firm is concealed. In danger yet joyful, oppressed yet not losing one's proper place: this brings success. Is it not the noble person alone who can do this? The great person's steadfastness brings good fortune because the firm holds the center. Words spoken are not believed: relying on the mouth leads to an impasse.
The Image Commentary says: A lake without water: Kun. Thus the noble person gives up his life to fulfill his purpose.
Entering a shadowed valley: the darkness admits no light.
Oppressed amid wine and food: within, there is cause for celebration.
Leaning upon thornbushes: the yielding rides upon the firm. Entering his home without seeing his wife: this is an ill omen.
Coming slowly: the will is set on what is below. Though the position is not fitting, there is support.
Nose cut off and feet severed: the will is unfulfilled. Slowly there comes release, through central uprightness. Sacrifices are favorable, bringing blessing.
Oppressed by creeping vines: the time is not yet right. Moving brings regret; with regret, it is good to go forth.
Plain English translation
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from the classical Chinese, covering all 64 hexagrams with their judgments, line statements and attached commentaries, and the remaining Wings (the Great Commentary, the Discussion of the Trigrams, the Sequence and the Contrasts of the Hexagrams), 1,204 passages in all.
Kun (Exhaustion): Success. If the great person stays the course, there is good fortune and no blame. Words will not be believed.
Six at the beginning: His buttocks are trapped against a tree stump. He enters a dark valley and is not seen for three years.
Nine in the second place: Trapped among food and drink, he sees the red ceremonial sash coming. It is favorable to make a sacrificial offering. Going on an expedition brings misfortune, but no blame.
Six in the third place: Trapped among rocks, he leans on thornbushes. He enters his home but cannot see his wife. Misfortune.
Nine in the fourth place: He comes slowly, held back by a metal carriage. Humiliation, but there is an end to it.
Nine in the fifth place: His nose is cut off and his feet are cut off; he is trapped by the red ceremonial sash. Then relief gradually comes. It is favorable to make sacrificial offerings.
Six at the top: Trapped in creeping vines and on unstable ground, he says, “Moving will bring regret.” He regrets this. Setting out brings good fortune.
The Judgment Commentary says: Kun (Exhaustion) means the firm is covered over. Amid danger there is joy. Who but the noble person can be exhausted without losing his place and still achieve success? The great person's staying the course brings good fortune because the firm is in the middle. Words will not be believed: relying on talk leads to an impasse.
The Image Commentary says: The lake has no water: this is Kun (Exhaustion). So the noble person stakes his life on fulfilling his purpose.
Entering a dark valley means being in darkness without light.
Trapped among food and drink, he still has a blessing at the center.
He leans on thornbushes because he rides above the firm. Entering his home without seeing his wife is an ill omen.
He comes slowly because his intention is directed downward. Though he is not in the proper position, he has someone to help him.
Having his nose and feet cut off means his aim has not yet been achieved. Relief comes gradually because he is centered and upright. Sacrificial offerings are favorable because he receives blessings.
Trapped in creeping vines means he is not in the proper place. He says moving will bring regret and regrets it: setting out brings good fortune.